Cole wrapped his arms on his chest, pushing his hips forward in a way Ned found oddly distracting, but when the music outside grew in pace, and a woman’s voice echoed through the woods with laughter, they both glanced toward the fire to see that dinner was over, replaced by a dance.
Tom pulled Lotta off the bench and spun her tiny form around, as if he weren’t afraid of her lush dress catching fire, but others followed suit, and soon three couples turned the grass and dirt into a dance-floor.
Cole peeked out of the tent, his foot tapping the wooden planks in the rhythm of the song. “Know the words to this one?” he asked, glancing Ned’s way with a smile.
He was so open to Ned, so enthusiastic to be friends in a way no man had even been. With his cousins, with the other ranch hands and male acquaintances, relations were always about posturing and rivalry. Yet despite the few times they’d butted heads, Cole remained eager to be around Ned and support him at the camp. It could be because Ned had saved him at the saloon, but neither Adam Wild nor Pearl particularly sought his company.
“Nah, I’m no singer,” Ned said, torn between approaching the fire to get to know others better and keeping Cole all to himself.
Cole’s whole body started rocking side to side as the rhythm quickened just before many voices sang the first verses.
There comes Johnny Tosser, his cock standing proud
Every whore in town, moaning real loud!
His prick snake-thick, and once it burrows in your cooch
It’ll rattle you so good the mantrap gives him a smooch.
Johnny Tosser, his cock standing proud
Poor, poor Johnny, stuck with his hand
Ned snorted and winked at Cole. “I know I wouldn’t be sucking that snake’s venom.”
Cole kept shifting his weight to the jolly rhythm, his smile so bright Ned didn’t need a lamp to see the muscles of his stomach work under the long johns. “Let’s dance,” he said and offered Ned his hand.
On the cattle drive, only him and his hand.
Once rode a cowpoke now buried in the sand.
His ball-bags so heavy it’s strainin’ Johnny’s steed
Skirts up for the cunt-robber—now that’s a good deed.
Johnny Tosser, his cock standing proud
Poor, poor Johnny, stuck with his hand!
“What? With you?” Ned gave a sheepish smile, taking a step back. “There’s lots of ladies for you to have your pick. This ain’t a mining town.”
When Ned spotted Butcher Tom, the monster from his nightmares, patting yet another woman’s rear, he couldn’t believe he hadn't yet choked on fumes of corruption in this den of sin. Instead, he saw people enjoying themselves, as if this was a gathering of friends.
Cole’s gaze stayed on him for the longest moment, but then he stepped out of the tent, arms wide. “Ladies, I’m back. Who missed me most?” he asked, his form only a silhouette in front of the bright fire. He was answered with delighted laughter and comments that would have made Aunt Muriel’s ears fall off, but as the naughty song continued, Cole grabbed himself a girl and spun her around, singing loudly enough for Ned to recognize his voice among the others.
Ned was being watched with both curiosity and suspicion, so he chose to stay out in the open and sat on a log by the campfire. Close enough to be with everyone, yet at enough of a distance to not impose.
Cole seemed to have forgotten Ned’s existence in the arms of a pretty redhead with round breasts and hips. At one point, as the song was coming to an end, Cole raised her off the ground and spun until the next melody started. He took a bottle from a crate resting close to the fire and the two of them shared several sips, swaying to a ballad.
Adam Wild did not have the best singing voice, but it was good enough for this lot, and his guitar skills made up for the blunders coming out of his mouth. At times, when Adam’s baritone didn’t quite hit the high notes right, Ned wished he’d shut up altogether and let everyone else enjoy the brilliant sound of the instrument, but the gang weren’t after perfection. The man had proved it with his rash behavior back in Beaver Springs saloon.
Ned started craving Cole’s attention as soon as he’d been abandoned at his own wish. But now that Cole was busy courting the girl and kissing her ear while she hung off his neck, chuckling as if she’d never been in more pleasant company, Ned was at loss. Because he couldn’t break it up and demand Cole’s time. No man should come between his friend and a lady, no matter how lonely he felt in the moment. So Ned focused on the flames and tried to find contentment in the fact that Cole had taken him under his wing in the first place.